If you want a Basecamp alternative, it is usually because you like the calm but need more structure: Gantt charts, workload, time tracking, custom fields or AI that does real work. AlianHub is a free, open-source, self-hosted option that keeps chat and docs beside the work and adds six project views, timesheets and AI agents with approvals. This post covers when to switch, when not to, and how to try it.
Key takeaways
- Basecamp is loved for being simple. That simplicity is also why some teams outgrow it.
- AlianHub adds six views, time tracking, custom roles and dashboards, on your own server.
- Calm does not have to mean limited.
- AI agents in AlianHub propose changes for a person to approve, so automation stays calm too.
- It is free under AGPL-3.0 with no per-seat pricing.
Why teams look for a Basecamp alternative
Basecamp, from 37signals, is built around a simple idea: each project gets a few clear tools, such as to-dos, a message board, a schedule, docs and group chat. Many teams love that it does not try to be everything.
The reasons people look elsewhere tend to be consistent:
- They need timeline planning with dependencies, not just a list of to-dos.
- They want to see who is overloaded before a deadline slips.
- They need time tracking and timesheet approval in the same tool.
- They want fields, roles and reports that match how their business works.
- They want to host the tool and the data themselves.
If none of those apply, Basecamp may still be the right tool. Switching for its own sake rarely pays.
AlianHub vs Basecamp at a glance
| Need | Basecamp | AlianHub |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Hosted service by 37signals | Self-hosted on your server with Docker Compose |
| License | Commercial | Open source, AGPL-3.0 |
| Views | Built around to-dos, boards and schedules | List, Board, Table, Calendar, Gantt and Workload |
| Chat | Built in | Channels, direct messages and @mentions |
| Time tracking | Not a core focus | Timers, weekly timesheets and approval |
| AI agents | Not a core focus | Agents with autonomy levels and an AI Inbox |
Basecamp's features change over time, so check its current plans for details. The point is the shape of each product: one is deliberately minimal, the other is a fuller workspace that you run yourself.
What you keep: the calm parts
The best thing about Basecamp is that conversations stay near the work. AlianHub keeps that:
- Task comments and @mentions keep decisions beside the task.
- Channels and direct messages for each project or team.
- Docs and wiki pages for briefs and notes, next to the tasks.
- Home shows your day: tasks grouped by Today, Overdue, Next and Unscheduled, an agenda, and a standup built from your activity with no AI model used.
Tip: when you move, create one channel per project and turn it into the default place for discussion. If chat moves somewhere else, the calm goes with it.
What you gain: structure when you need it
Six views of the same tasks
List, Board, Table, Calendar, Gantt and Workload, synced in real time. The Gantt shows a bar per task with links for blockers and milestones as diamonds. Workload shows planned hours per person against capacity.
Time and capacity
Start a timer on a task or add time by hand, submit a weekly timesheet for approval, and use the Capacity Planning and Variance reports to see where hours go.
Roles, fields and companies
Four workspace roles (Owner, Admin, Member, Guest), custom roles, private projects and lists, custom fields per task, and several isolated companies in one instance. See the features page.
How AlianHub's AI helps teams leaving Basecamp
This is the biggest difference. AlianHub is built around AI agents that do routine work, with a person approving what matters.
- AI project generator: describe a project in plain words and review a full plan of lists, tasks, subtasks and checklists before anything is built.
- Ask box: ask "What should we get done?" or "Find my urgent work" and get answers from the projects you can open.
- Reporter digests: an agent posts what moved, what is stuck and what is at risk, on a schedule if you allow it.
- AI Inbox: wider changes, like moving tasks between lists or assigning work, wait for your yes.
- Undo and audit log: every AI change is logged, and reversible ones come with Undo.
- Bring your own AI: connect Claude, ChatGPT or Claude Code over MCP.
Basecamp asks you to keep things simple. AlianHub lets AI handle the busywork so things feel simple. Learn more on the AI page.
How to do this in AlianHub
- Install with the three Docker Compose commands, or open the live demo first.
- Export your Basecamp to-dos to a CSV, then import it under Settings > Import & export. Imports can be undone.
- Create a channel per project in Chat and move your briefs into Docs.
- Open AI in the left menu and use the AI project generator to plan your next project from a brief.
- On the Agents tab, set a Reporter agent to L1 first, so every change waits in the AI Inbox.
- Review its proposals in the AI Inbox and check AI > Audit log for what it did.
A business scenario: a growing agency
A small agency ran on Basecamp happily until it grew. Client work now needed timelines, hours per client and a weekly status note for each account. Those lived in three extra tools and a spreadsheet.
After moving, projects run on a Gantt, hours are logged against tasks, and a Reporter agent drafts each client's weekly digest for the account lead to review. The team keeps one place for chat and docs, spends less time assembling status reports, and can take on more clients without adding admin work.
When Basecamp is still the better choice
Be honest about fit. Basecamp may suit you better if:
- You want a hosted tool and have no one to run a server.
- Your projects are simple to-do lists with no time tracking.
- You prefer fewer options on purpose.
AlianHub suits teams that want to own their data, need more structure, and want AI to take on real work. If you are weighing other tools too, see our open-source ClickUp alternative post.
FAQ
Is AlianHub a free Basecamp alternative?
Yes. AlianHub is free and open source under AGPL-3.0, self-hosted with no per-seat pricing. Paid help with hosting, customisation and support is available from Aliansoftware if you want it.
Can I import my Basecamp projects?
AlianHub imports from Jira, ClickUp, Trello, Asana, Monday.com and CSV. For Basecamp, export your data to a CSV and import that under Settings > Import & export.
Does AlianHub have chat like Basecamp?
Yes. It has channels per project or team, direct messages and @mentions in task comments, so conversations stay attached to the work.
Do I need AI to use AlianHub?
No. Nothing in the product requires AI. The AI pages stay empty until a key is set or you connect your own AI app.
Open the demo, self-host it free, and share this with the teammate who keeps a spreadsheet next to your Basecamp.